Fuhrman Tapes Cause Soul Searching

Some Officers Insist Lapd Has Come Long Way Since Rodney King Case

LOS ANGELES - — This time it's not about videotape and Rodney King; it's about audiotapes and Mark Fuhrman.

But once again, in the glare of the world spotlight, the Los Angeles Police Department faces troubling questions about the conduct and attitude of its officers.

Has anything changed in the four years since the King beating?

Thomas Stiles finds himself wondering. He is a black police officer who joined the LAPD 13 years ago. Like others in an agency that has struggled to rid itself of racism and sexism, he found himself hearing about Fuhrman's alleged slurs and misconduct and feeling confused about how far the department has come.

"It's frustrating," Stiles said. "Here we are approaching the year 2000 and it doesn't look like it's getting any better."

The Fuhrman tapes - now a focal point of the O.J. Simpson trial - have caused considerable soul-searching throughout the ranks of the LAPD. Some officers insist that the department has made enormous strides since the 1991 King beating.

Women and minorities now make up a greater share of the department's sworn personnel than ever before, LAPD administrators say. Training programs emphasize tolerance of all races and groups, including gays. Officers found guilty of racism, sexism or excessive force face fines and suspensions.

Still, the picture is muddled. Even as an entrenched "old boy" network is giving way, some officers cling to old biases. Their attitudes are not as openly expressed, but many are reacting to situations that sometimes require more restraint or sensitivity than they are willing to offer, critics said.

The Fuhrman tapes have added to the criticism leveled at the department. During his tape-recorded talks with a would-be screenwriter, Fuhrman spoke in racial slurs, disparaged female officers and boasted of lying, roughing up suspects and tampering with evidence, according to attorneys in the Simpson case.

Fuhrman's spokesman said Fuhrman was inventing "fairy tales" to punch up a screenplay.